Dispensing device



1946. P. NELSON ETAL DISPENSING DEVICE Filed D80. 18, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS. F? R. NELSON 3 RC. PHiLUPS 14, 1946- P. R. NELSON ETAL DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Dec. 18. 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS. PR. NELSON 8- RQFHILLIPS r msrnnsmc navrcs Philip R. Nelson and Robert 0. Phillip. Los Angeles, Calif.

' Application December 18, 1944, Serial No. 568,687

14 Claims. (Cl. 216-482) I'his invention relates-to dispensing devices and more particularly to a device for dispensing pressure sensitive adhesive tape.

Numerous devices have been heretofore proposed for dispensing tape of the so called Bcotc type but these prior dispensers have not been entirely successful for a number of reasons. They generally consisted of devices for holding a roll of the tape and were formed with a fixed knife edge or the like against which the tape withdrawn from the roll could be urged to sever a desired length from the roll.

will be withdrawn from the ,roll a the device is drawn across the surface. v'lhe device should In use, these prior devices were usually held a a in one hand while a length of tape was pulled from the roll with the other hand. After the length of tape had been withdrawn and severed, the dispenser was then placed on. some support, and opposite ends of the tape grasped by the hands of the user and the tape secured in the desired position.

It was impossible to grasp the tape without the fingers contacting the adhesive surface of the same and the tape tended to adhere to the fingers when it was attempted to place the tape on the desired surface. The adhesive qualities of the surfaces contacted by the fingers of the user was many times impaired and this resulted in poor adhesion between the tape and the selected surface at these areas.

The length of tape which could be conveniently withdrawn at any one time from many of the devices previously used was limited to the stretch of the user. Thus extremely long single lengths of tape could not be conveniently dispensed from these prior devices.

- The device of the present invention obviates.

this inherent defect of prior devices for single lengths of any size can be conveniently withdrawn and severed from the roll without handling the tape after the withdrawing action is of the strip protrudes through the same.

ing portion of the strip is faced into the chamber.

initiated. As the objectional handling of the tape is eliminated the resulting impairment of the adhesive surface is also eliminated.

The now preferred embodiment of the device of the present invention comprises a casing having a chamber in which a roll of the tape to be dispensed is rotatably mounted. Tape is lead from the roll in the chamber through a slot formed in the wall of the casing adjacenta pressure foot formed on the underneath surface of the device. In use, the end of the tape is pressed into engagement with the selected surface and the device merely drawn over the surface. The adhesion betweenthe tape and the surface anchors the one end of the tapeso that the tape be urged against thesurface as it is drawnover the same to insure that the tape is firmly pressed by the pressure fort into good adhesive engagementwith the surface.

After the desired length of tape has been withdrawn and pressed into engagement with the surface, the device is tilted or rocked forwardly to actuate a severing means carried by the device. In the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, the severing means comprises an elongate strip of resiiient material curled to lay within a chamber formed in an arm projecting from the casing. The arm is formed at the free end thereof with an opening so that a portion As one end of the strip is anchored, the other end will move through a slot opening onto the path of the tape and sever the samev as the .protrud- The portion of the strip protruding through the opening is so positioned that tilting or rocking the. device is sufficient to force the same into the chamber to cause the free end to move into cutting engagement with the tape withdrawn.

As the cutting edge of the strip is normally concealed within the chamber there is no danger of the same injuring a user as he handles the device. Furthermore, as the cutting edge can not be forced out of the chamber as long as the pressure fort is held against the surface, no care need to be taken in selecting the pressure exerted against the device as it is being drawn over the desired surface during the withdrawing action.

The severing means cuts thetape such a distance in advance of the slot that a portion of the tape'protrudes through the same and serves as a convenient tab when the dispenser is-again used. When the dispenser is not in use the protruding end of the tape is bent back and is adhesively secured to a storage surface having a length slightly less than the tab formed by the protruding end of the tape. The portion of this tab extending beyond the storage surface is adhesively secured to the wall of a concavity small enough to prevent accidental entry of objects which might dislodge the end of the tab but yet large enough to permit entry of a finger when it is desired to remove the tab from its stowed position.

The device of the present invention thus it will be seen forms avery convenient means for dispensing any desired length of tape and without the necessity of handling .the tape during either the. withdrawing or severingoperation. As the severing means cuts the tape so as to form the convenient tab for initiating a subsequent use of the device the aggravating operation of searching for the end of the tape or digging the end out of a holder is obviated.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an. exploded perspective view of the device of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view showing the tape-laying position of our device;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 but show- I ing our device in cutting position;-

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the cutting means of our device;

Figure 5 is a section taken along line 5-5 of Figure 2; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary view of a portion of the casing showing one of the finger indentations,

The dispensing device of the present invention, referring now to the drawings, comprises a body member or casing I0 preferably formed of some plastic material such as that sold under the trade name Tenite." The body member or casing can be formed by a simple forming operation and comprises a chamber for receiving a. roll of the tape to be dispensed. An axle II for mounting the core I2 of a roll I3 of tape is centrally disposed relative to the chamber and as clearly shown in Figure 1 a hollow cylindrical member formed integral with the one wall of the casing Ill.

The casing III is formed with a hollow arm I4 preferably cast integral with the casing and transversely divided by a wall I5. Although the arm is integrally formed with the casing in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the same may if desired, be formed as a separate piece and securely mounted to the casing in some conventional manner.

The casing is provided with a detachable cover I6 formed with a hollow cylindrical boss I1 adapted to be received in the axle H of the casing. The outer diameter of the boss is just slightly less than the inner diameter of the axle and the cover is held to the casing by the friction fit of the two parts.

To prevent the cover from rotating relative to the casing, a pin I8 is integrally formed with the cover and projects laterally therefrom for reception in a small opening formed in the wall I5. It will be seen that the pin and opening also serves as an aligning means for properly locating the cover on the casing.

To facilitate removal of the cover I5, the upper wall of the arm and the wall of the casing are each formed with an indentation I9 and I9 respectively to permit the fingers of the user to more conveniently grip the cover. The indentation I9 formed in the wall of the arm provides a very accessible surface for receivinga trade name or any desired indicia as best shown in Figure 6.

In use, after a roll of the tape is mounted on the axle, the end of the tape is drawn from the roll and lead through a slot formed in the one wall of the arm adjacent a pressure foot or pad 2| extending outwardly of the exterior surface of the arm. It will be seen, referring now to Figure 2 of the drawings, that in the use of the device the tape is passed under the pressure foot 2I with the adhesive surface of the same facing outwardly or downwardly.

To dispense tape from the roll I2 it is only necessary to cause the end of the tape to adhesively engage the desired surface and then while holding the device with the foot 2| in engagement with the supper surface of the tape draw the device along the surface. The pressure foot will urge the tape into good adhesive engagement with the selected surface and this engagement as the device is drawn along the surface will cause the tape to be drawn off the roll I3. I

The device of the present invention includes a novel severing means which is normally inoperative but rendered operative by merely rocking the device forwardly after the desired length of tape has been withdrawn. Although the severing means may take a number of formain the now preferred embodiment of the invention, this means comprises an elongate strip 22 of flexible metal. The strip is permanently deformed to provide the how 23 and then curled to permit the same to be disposed in a chamber 24 of the arm I4.

The free end of the arm is formed with a face 25 angularly disposed relative to the under surface of the arm. The face is provided with an opening communicating with the chamber 24 and the bow 23 of the strip, after the same has expanded to the extent permitted by the walls of the chamber 24, extends through the opening as shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3. The one wall of the chamber is cut away to form a shoulder 21, which forms a stop for one end of the strip 22, the other end of the spring being free to move along the wall 28 of the chamber. The strip 22, due to the resiliency of the metal from which it is formed,

tends to remain in the expanded position with the free end of the same in the position shown in Figure 2.

It will be seen, referring now to Figure 3, that if pressure is applied to the bow 23 extending through the opening the strip can be compressed to cause the free end to slide along the wall 28 which guides the same to a slot 29 formed in the bottom wall of the chamber 24. The free end of the strip is scarfed and sharpened to form a knife edge 30 and this forms the cutting or severing means of the device. As theslot-29 opens onto the outer surface of the arm I4 adjacent the trailing edge of the pressure foot 2|, sufficient pressure applied to the how will urge the knife edge 30 through the slot 29 and into cutting engagement with the tape to sever the same.

In the use of the device herein shown, after the desired length of tape has been withdrawn, the device is merely rocked or tilted forwardly to urge the bow 23 or protruding portion of the strip into engagement with the surface on which the tape is engaged. As best shown in Figure 3, the meeting edge of the underneath surface of the arm I4 and the face 25 forms a fulcrum about which the device can be very easily rocked to compress the strip and force the knife edge 30 into the tape to cut the same. The face 25 in this operation forms a stop for limiting the rocking or tilting movement of the dispenser. After the tape has been cut and the device lifted from the surface, the knife edge will be automatically retracted into the arm by the return of the strip to its normal position as shown in Figure 2.

As the tape dispensed can be severed merely by tilting the dispenser and without the necessity,

' urge the tape into good adhesive engagement with the surface.

Although the pressure foot is lifted from the tape during the severing operation it will be seen from Figure 3 that the spring resiliently holds down the tape dispensed and prevents it from being pulled up from the surface by the knifeedge 29 during the severingoperation.

After the tape has been severed it will be seen thatv a portion of the tape withdrawn through the slot 20 will remain without the casing. This portion forms a convenient tab for initiating a subsequent use of the device. To prevent this withdrawn portion of any object it may come so formed may be cured to a surface 3| formed on the lower wall of the arm. This surface-as best shown in Figure 1, has a length less than the length of the pressure pad 3! or fort 2i and the end of the tape will project beyond the surface 3| and can be pressed into engagement with the wall of a groove 32. The groove should be of such a width that foreign articles would not be apt to catch under the end of the tape and loosen the same but yet in contact with, the tab wide enough to permit the tape to be loosened by the finger when it is desired to again use the device. Thus the device herein disclosed provides a very convenient surface for stowing the tab pro jecting from the casing and the annoyance of digging for the end of the tape is eliminated.

The device of the present invention may, if desired, be held in onehand while a short length of tape is drawn out of the casing by the other 'hand. When it is desired to sever the short length withdrawn the hand grasping the end of the tape can be pressed or urged downwardly against the how 23 to force the knife edge 30 into cutting engagement with the tape.

After the tape has been severed, the handhelding the tape can be moved out of engagement with the bow 23 and the resiliency of the material of the strip will cause the same to return to its normal position. The tab extending through the slot can be then bent back and stored against the surface 3 l as in the first described use of the device.

Although the now preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described herein it should be understood that the invention is not to be limited thereto for it is susceptible to changes in form and detail within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A device for dispensing tape comprising a casing for holding a roll of said tape, said casing having an opening through which said tapeis led; an arm projecting from said casing and under which the tape is fed from said opening; a pad carried by said arm for pressing said tape onto the surface to receive the same; a face on the free end of said am angularly disposed relative to the tape-engaging surface of said pad; and means normally carried within said arm and movable therefrom for severing the tape when surface on which the tape is being bent back and adhesively se-.

said device is tilted to bring said face into engagement with the surface receiving the tape.

2. A' dispensing device of the type described comprising a casing for holdingv a roll of the tape to be dispensed; a pressure pad carried by the undersurface of said casing, said casing having a slot opening onto said undersurface through which said tape is fed to pass beneath said pad the tape from adhering to for application to a desired surface as the device is drawn over the same; means normally carried within said casing for severing the tape when a desired length has been drawn off said roll and applied to said surface; and means for actuating said severing means made operative by rocking said casing about an edge of said pad.

3. A device for dispensing tape comprising a casing for holding a roll of said tape, said casing having a slot through which one end of said tape is led; a hollow arm projecting from said casing and under which the tape is fed from said slot; a pad carried by said arm for supporting said device and for pressing said tape onto the surface to re- .ceive the same as the device is drawn over said surface; a face on the freeend of said arm angularly intersecting the.lower surface of said arm, said face having an opening therein; means normally carried within said arm and movable therearm.

4. A device fordispensing tape comprising a casing for holding a roll of said tape,.said casing having a slot through which one end of said tape is led; a hollow arm projecting from said casing and under which the tape is fed from said slot; a pad carried by said am for pressing said tape onto the surface to receive the same as the device is drawn over said surface; a face formed at the free end of said arm angularly intersecting the lower surface of arm; means normally carried within said arm and movable therefrom for severing the tape when the desired length has been dispensed; and means carried bysaid severing means andprotruding through an opening in said face for moving said severing means into cutting engagement with said tape when the device is rocked about the fulcrum formed at the intersection of said face and the lower surface of said arm to urge said last named means into engagement with the surface receiving the tape.

5. A dispensing device of the type described comprising a casing for holding a roll of the tape to be dispensed; a hollow arm projecting from said casing and having an opening at the free end thereof; a pressure pad carried by the undersurface of said arm, said arm having a slot opening onto said undersurface through which said tape is fed to said pad for application to a desired surface; means normally carried within said arm for severing the tape when a desired length has been drawn off said roll and applied 7. A device for dispensing tape comprising a casing for holding a roll of said tape, said casing" having a slot through which one end of said tape is led; a pad carried by said casing under which said tape is fed from said st,'said pad pressing said tape onto the surface to receive the same; a. strip of resilient materialcurled to conform to a portion of the interior surface of said casing; a guide surface formed within said casing for guiding one end of said strip to a slot leading to one end of said pad; a bow portion of said stripprotruding through an opening at the one end of said casing and 50 disposed that a rearwardly directedtilting motion imparted to said device forces said bow inwardly and urges the one end of the strip along the guide surface and through the slot to sever the tape at the one end of said pad.

8. 'A dispensing device of the type described comprising a casing for holding a roll of the tape to be dispensed; a hollow arm projecting from said casing and having an opening at the free end thereof; a pressure pad carried by the undersurface of said arm, said arm having a slot opening onto said undersurface through which said tape is fed to said pad for application to a desired surface; means normally carried within said arm for severing the tape when a desired length has been drawn off said roll and pressed by said pad into engagement with said surface; and means formed integral with said severing means projecting through said opening for actuating said severing means in response to an inwardly directed force applied to said last named means.

9. A device for dispensing tape comprising a casing for holding a roll of the tape to be dispensed; a hollow arm projecting from one side of said casing; a transverse wall forming a chamber at the free end of said arm; a, pressure pad formed on the undersurface of said arm under which tape is fed from a slot leading from the interior of said casing; a strip of resilient material, one end of said strip being held within said chamber substantially parallel to the surface of said pad, said strip having a bow intermediate the ends thereof projecting through an opening at the free end of said arm, the other end of said strip being curled back to extend at a substantial angle to the path of said tape; and a guide surface within said chamber leading to a slot opening onto said path whereby a force applied to said bow causes the free end of said strip to move along said guide and through said slot to sever said tape.

10. A device for dispensing tape comprising a casing for holding a roll of the tape to be dispensed; a hollow arm projecting from one side of said casing; a transverse wall forming a chamber at the free end of said arm; a pressure pad formed on the undersurface of said arm under which tape is fed from a slot leading from the interior of said casing; a strip of resilient material, one end of said'strip being held within said chamber substantially parallel to the surface of said pad, said strip having a bow intermediate the ends thereof projecting through an opening at the free end of said arm, the other end of said strip being curled back to extend at a substantial angle to the path of said tape; a guide surface formed on said transverse well within said chamber leading to a slot in the wall of said arm about which said device may be rocked to force said bow into engagement with the surface receiving said tape to cause the free end of said strip to move along said guide and through said slot to sever said tape.

11. A device for dispensing tape comprising a casing; a hollow axle within said casing for holding a roll of said tape; a hollow arm projecting from said casing; a transverse wall forming a chamber at the free end of said arm; a pressure pad formed on the undersurface of said arm under. which tape is fed from a slot leading from the interior of said casing; a strip of resilient material, one end of said strip being held within said chamber substantially parallel to the surface of said pad, said strip having a bow intermediate the ends thereof projecting through an opening at the open end of said arm, the other end of said strip being curled back to extend at a substantial angle to the path of said tape; a guide surface on said wall leading to a slot opening onto said path whereby a force applied to said bow causes the free end of said strip to move along said guide and through said slot to sever said tape; a cover for said casing; a boss carried by said cover adapted to be frictionally held within said hollow axle when the cover is mounted to said device; and means on said cover cooperative with means on said transverse wall for holding said cover against rotation relative to said casing.

12. A device for dispensing tape comprising a casing for holding a. roll of said tape, said casing having a slot in a wall thereof through which one end of said tape is led; a hollow arm projecting from said casing and under which the tape is fed from said slot; a pad carried by said arm for pressing said tape onto the surface to receive the same as the device is drawn over said surface; a face formed at the free end of said arm angularly intersecting the lower surface of said and; a strip of resilient material bent upon itself, said strip being curled to lay within said hollow arm, said face having an opening therein through which the bow of said strip protrudes; means for limiting movement of one end of said strip, the other end of said strip being formed with a knife edge and free to move through a slot formed in said arm adjacent the trailing edge of said pressure pad when said device is rocked about the fulcrum formed by the intersection of said face and lower surface of said arm to force said bow into v engagement with the surface receiving said tape.

13. A device for dispensing tape comprising a casing for holding a roll of said tape, said casing having a slot through which said tape is led; a hollow arm projecting from said casing and open at the free end thereof, said arm forming a chamber adjacent to said slot; tape severing means normally carried within said chamber; and means for actuating said severing means comprising means extending through the open end of the said arm adapted when forced back into the open end of said arm to actuate said severing means and move the same through an aperture in said arm leading to the path of said tape as it emerges from said slot whereby the end of the tape can be grasped by the hand of the user and a desired length drawn off the roll after which the hand may be moved into engagement with said actuatwith the bow of said strip extending through the and means for limiting open end of said arm;

of said strip as the bow movement of one end for dispensing tape comprising a of the tape can thereof is compressed, the other end of'said strip being formed with'a knife edge and free to move as the bow is compressed through an aperture formed in said arm leading to the path of said tape as it emerges from said slot whereby the end be grasped by the hand of the user and a desired length drawn off the roll after which the hand holding the tape can be moved into engagement with the bow of the strip to compress the same and move the knife edge through said aperture and into said tape to sever the same.

. PHILIP R. NELSON.

ROBERT C. PHIILIPS. 

